Matisyahu - Live At Stubbs Review

3 words: Hassidic reggae superstar. Impossible right? Guess again. Matisyahu is the farthest thing from a gimmick.

This album is incredible. It starts off with "Sea To Sea", a song with a great guitar rythm and with the words that one says before the Amidah; "Lord open up my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise". A pretty fitting opening to a concert huh? The next song opens with a bang. "Chop 'Em Down" is an great song and a perfect lead-in to "Warrior"; with its slow groove and its deeply spiritual message shouldn't be missed. It also has a really awesome guitar solo about 6 and a half minutes in. The next song is "Lord Raise Me Up" - true reggae that shows his band at their best. Jonah David, their drummer does a good job keeping the beats going. "Lord Raise Me Up" is followed by "King Without A Crown", a song with incredible guitar solos from the hands of Aaron Dugan, a phenomenal guitarist, and awesome lyrics. The song after that, "Aish Tamid" talks about the Jewish idea of a never-ending flame that burns in everybody. His words are backed by the jamming of his band; "Root Tonic".

The next song is really weird if you have never heard someone beatboxing. It's incredible to think that someone can make such a sound with nothing but his mouth. Matisyahu is a
world-class beatboxer in my opinion. About 3 minutes into the song, his band joins in and Matis lets loose his great rapping skills. The next song "Fire and Heights" is a powerful instrumental that shows how talented Roots Tonic really are. Following "Fire and Heights" is "Exaltation", an amazing song fueled by Aaron Dugan's pounding guitar. The song "Refuge", with bits taken from the Book of Psalms, is nice and slow; which leads well into the siren-like guitar opening of "Heights", the second to last song on the album. The last song on the disk is also the best, "Close My Eyes" is an incredible song that really fills out the album.

I highly suggest that everyone get this CD before buying "Youth", Matisyahu's 3rd album (review of "Youth" to come shortly). This is much better.

anyway, Peace out everyone
Avi

U2 - Under A Blood Red Sky Review

The album Under A Blood Red Sky is the probably the best U2 album out there.

Recorded at Red Rocks Colorado, it starts off with the incredible "Gloria", from the album "October" and captures all of U2's live energy. "Gloria" is followed by "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" with great drumming by Larry Mullen Jr. The inspiring "I Will Follow" is next. The relatively obscure "Party Girl" follows. I really thing that this is one of the top 3 songs that U2 have done. (along with "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Years Day") The guitar piece from about a minute 15 to 1:30 is what makes it. It's great.

The next song is "not a rebel song" as Bono puts it, or as we all call it; "Sunday Bloody Sunday", the best U2 song out there. This is an incredible version with all of the energy and passion that a song like this requires. The next song is "The Electric Co.", another lesser known song where the band really gels. The second to last song is "New Years Day" with great piano and non-stop guitar by The Edge.

Anyone who has listened to this album this far and doesn't like it has issues and should seek help.

The album ends with the uplifting, spiritually driven "40". The chorus is what does it for me. The crowd's hand claps are almost exactly in tune! lol.

Seriously, this is a must have for any music fan, let alone a U2 fan.

Peace out,

Avi

Normal music

I think that the point of this blog is to express my views on good music, not most of the commercial crap thats out these days. That stuff isn't cool (or good). good music for instance is like Hendrix, or Matisyahu or Bob Dylan.

My favorite cds at the moment are these 2 Moshav Band cds they are seriously the best albums in my house at the moment.
The 2 disks of their's that i have are Higher and Higher, their greatest hits album,
and Malachim. They truly are incredible.
The other things i'm listening to are the "Before the Flood" Bob Dylan concert and Electric Ladyland, Jimi Hendrix's 3rd and last studio release. They're pretty good.

Anyway, im gonna sign off for now. Peace and Love
Avi